Chapter 6
655 Words
The palace gardens were the only place where Elena could breathe.
She wasn't supposed to be there.
Servants were expected to remain in the areas assigned to them, but that afternoon, after finishing her work, Elena slipped through a narrow stone passage and entered the back garden.
Nobody came there anymore.
The garden had been abandoned for years.
Wild vines covered the old stone walls, and roses grew wherever they pleased. A small fountain stood in the center, its water barely moving.
Elena sat beneath a large tree and closed her eyes.
For the first time that day, she felt peaceful.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the small red flower she had found near the old music room.
She still didn't understand why looking at it made her feel strange.
She touched one of its petals.
A faint memory flashed through her mind.
A woman's hand.
Fire.
Her mother's voice.
Elena quickly opened her eyes.
"Not again."
She rubbed her forehead.
Why couldn't she remember?
Why did her past always feel just beyond her reach?
A voice suddenly came from behind her.
"You shouldn't be here."
Elena nearly jumped out of her skin.
She turned.
Lucien stood several feet away.
No crown.
No royal coat.
No guards.
Just the same dark clothes he had worn when she first met him.
Elena immediately stood.
"Your Majesty."
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
"You're calling me that now?"
She looked embarrassed.
"I know who you are now."
"Unfortunately."
She almost smiled.
"You are the king."
"I've heard."
Elena lowered her gaze.
"I'm sorry about yesterday."
"For what?"
"For not knowing who you were."
"Why would you?"
She looked up.
"Because everyone else knew."
"Perhaps everyone else is too afraid to speak to me."
Elena hesitated.
"Are you saying I'm not afraid?"
Lucien looked at her.
"You should be."
The words were serious.
But there was something playful beneath them.
Elena smiled faintly.
"Maybe I am."
"You're hiding it badly."
She laughed softly.
Lucien stared at her.
For a moment, something changed in his expression.
It was almost as though he had forgotten where he was.
"You laugh differently than I remember."
Elena's smile disappeared.
"What?"
Lucien went still.
He had spoken without thinking.
"I said—"
"You said you remember me."
His eyes darkened.
"I didn't say that."
"You did."
Silence.
Elena studied him.
"Have we met before?"
Lucien didn't answer.
The wind moved through the trees.
Finally, he said:
"No."
Elena frowned.
"Then why did you say that?"
"Forget it."
He turned away.
But Elena couldn't stop looking at him.
There was something about him.
Something she couldn't explain.
She had only met him twice.
Yet standing beside him felt strangely familiar.
Then Lucien noticed what she was holding.
"The flower."
Elena looked down.
"You know it?"
His expression changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"Near the old music room."
Lucien's eyes immediately became serious.
"You shouldn't have touched it."
"Why?"
He stepped closer.
"Because some things in this palace are better left forgotten."
Elena stared at him.
"Is that another warning?"
"Yes."
She looked at the flower again.
"Why does everyone keep warning me?"
Lucien didn't answer.
Instead, his gaze moved to the crescent-shaped mark on her wrist.
For a moment, he looked almost troubled.
Then he whispered:
"Who are you, Elena?"
She looked up.
"I don't know."
And for the first time, Lucien looked at her as though that answer frightened him.
Neither of them noticed the figure watching from the balcony above the garden.
Lady Seraphina stood completely still.
Her eyes were fixed on the king.
Then on Elena.
Her fingers slowly curled around the balcony railing.
Beside her, Mirella whispered:
"Now you see."
Seraphina said nothing.
She didn't need to.
She had seen enough.
The king wasn't merely curious about Elena.
Something about the human girl had captured his attention.
And Seraphina had no intention of allowing that to continue.
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